Comments on: S.F. Plan to Tackle Nuisance Crimes http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/ Just another actlocallysf.org weblog Sat, 17 May 2008 07:30:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.0 by: Tony Holiday http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-206 Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:53:46 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-206 Well maybe if they would leave the ##&&@@ park bathrooms UNLOCKED there wouldn't be as many problems with public urination. I went to Alta Plaza Park in the middle of the day with dozens of parents and kids, dog walkers, etc. around, yet the men's room was PADLOCKED. I had a similar experience in Golden Gate Park recently. The bathroom near the Sharon Art Studio was open for women but LOCKED for the men's side. This is NOT on the edge of the park where homeless congregate but farther in the park. This too was in the middle of the day, on a weekend. Give people more public bathrooms and keep the ones in the parks unlocked during the day. Pay toilets are fine, IF they're working. Many times they are not.<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 1</li> </ul> Well maybe if they would leave the ##&&@@ park bathrooms UNLOCKED there wouldn’t be as many problems with public urination. I went to Alta Plaza Park in the middle of the day with dozens of parents and kids, dog walkers, etc. around, yet the men’s room was PADLOCKED. I had a similar experience in Golden Gate Park recently. The bathroom near the Sharon Art Studio was open for women but LOCKED for the men’s side. This is NOT on the edge of the park where homeless congregate but farther in the park. This too was in the middle of the day, on a weekend. Give people more public bathrooms and keep the ones in the parks unlocked during the day. Pay toilets are fine, IF they’re working. Many times they are not.
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]]> by: Demi Monde http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-199 Sat, 31 Mar 2007 23:09:21 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-199 Priorities! Please get some. Exactly what is it about being asked for a quarter or seeing graffiti bothers you people so much? Sidewalks are public places. If the panhandler is sitting on your front lawn, s/he is wrong. If s/he blocks your path or hits you, even wronger. But the "problem" is Newsom's favorite talking point and is NOT A "PROBLEM", it's just something rich people really hate seeing because it either makes them feel guilty (that's their problem, get over it) or in the case of graffiti, "makes them feel like they're living in a 'poor' area" which bothers them since it makes them feel lower on that social scale. Quit being neurotic whiners. Get more toilets set up because urinating and defecating are HUMAN functions. Rich and poor alike do them. It cannot be helped. Without a place to go, THEN you have serious health issues and it's a valid 'quality of life' issue. Drugs? Support their legalisation. I am totally serious. The federal government likes to keep you panicked in case you have not noticed. The latest panic du jour is "meth", but even though it's not the healthiest drug lots of people began using it when the feds destroyed access to psychedelics and other drugs of a more peaceful nature. As I have said before: I live in Diamond Heights now, but spent 11 years in the "problem" areas and NEVER ONCE did the sale of sex or drugs EVER ruin my quality of life. If your quality of life depends on perfectly clean areas full of perfectly rich people, please move to Walnut Creek. This is a major metropolitan area with hundreds of REAL issues. This is - except for the case of sanitation issues - a red herring. It distracts San Francisco residents from the real problems facing them. Here's an example. State and local governments need to resist the current federal administration NOW and RESOLUTELY. Want to get nuked? Want to have a 9/11 happen with the Transamerica Pyramid? The way the Shrubbery is flouting itself globally, you might just see this happen. The way to prevent it is to change federal policy, FAST, because the route it is taking puts all major metropolitan areas in "sacrificial" zones. When America attacks and occupies nations we have to EXPECT retaliations. We cannot possibly eliminate every OTHER terrorist on the face of the earth and be the last ones left. And even if we could, should we? THAT is a problem. The crazy guy on the corner high on drugs and begging for a dollar is not the sort of problem to get uptight over. And Gavin's record of producing these so-called services for such people is...practically nonexistent. He takes the last thing they have in the way of a little happiness away, replaces it with Care Not Cash because of the whinings such as we see here, and then talks about "volunteer-staffed" services. These "services" will be nothing but people pointing the poor to places where they'll wait in line for hours and get turned down for one reason or another. "Drug treatment" will turn out to be some NA meetings, which is not treatment, it's church. It'll be cheap and appealing, these "services". But it won't help anyone but the mayor. Who ought to - one would think - have a bit more compassion for substance users himself...considering his admission to alcoholism.<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 1</li> </ul> Priorities! Please get some. Exactly what is it about being asked for a quarter or seeing graffiti bothers you people so much? Sidewalks are public places. If the panhandler is sitting on your front lawn, s/he is wrong. If s/he blocks your path or hits you, even wronger. But the “problem” is Newsom’s favorite talking point and is NOT A “PROBLEM”, it’s just something rich people really hate seeing because it either makes them feel guilty (that’s their problem, get over it) or in the case of graffiti, “makes them feel like they’re living in a ‘poor’ area” which bothers them since it makes them feel lower on that social scale.

Quit being neurotic whiners. Get more toilets set up because urinating and defecating are HUMAN functions. Rich and poor alike do them. It cannot be helped. Without a place to go, THEN you have serious health issues and it’s a valid ‘quality of life’ issue.

Drugs? Support their legalisation. I am totally serious. The federal government likes to keep you panicked in case you have not noticed. The latest panic du jour is “meth”, but even though it’s not the healthiest drug lots of people began using it when the feds destroyed access to psychedelics and other drugs of a more peaceful nature. As I have said before: I live in Diamond Heights now, but spent 11 years in the “problem” areas and NEVER ONCE did the sale of sex or drugs EVER ruin my quality of life.

If your quality of life depends on perfectly clean areas full of perfectly rich people, please move to Walnut Creek. This is a major metropolitan area with hundreds of REAL issues. This is - except for the case of sanitation issues - a red herring. It distracts San Francisco residents from the real problems facing them.

Here’s an example. State and local governments need to resist the current federal administration NOW and RESOLUTELY. Want to get nuked? Want to have a 9/11 happen with the Transamerica Pyramid? The way the Shrubbery is flouting itself globally, you might just see this happen. The way to prevent it is to change federal policy, FAST, because the route it is taking puts all major metropolitan areas in “sacrificial” zones. When America attacks and occupies nations we have to EXPECT retaliations. We cannot possibly eliminate every OTHER terrorist on the face of the earth and be the last ones left. And even if we could, should we?

THAT is a problem. The crazy guy on the corner high on drugs and begging for a dollar is not the sort of problem to get uptight over. And Gavin’s record of producing these so-called services for such people is…practically nonexistent. He takes the last thing they have in the way of a little happiness away, replaces it with Care Not Cash because of the whinings such as we see here, and then talks about “volunteer-staffed” services.

These “services” will be nothing but people pointing the poor to places where they’ll wait in line for hours and get turned down for one reason or another. “Drug treatment” will turn out to be some NA meetings, which is not treatment, it’s church. It’ll be cheap and appealing, these “services”. But it won’t help anyone but the mayor.

Who ought to - one would think - have a bit more compassion for substance users himself…considering his admission to alcoholism.

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]]> by: Jason R http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-177 Sat, 31 Mar 2007 08:59:50 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-177 lik roper: How is vandalizing property not a crime?<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 1</li> </ul> lik roper:

How is vandalizing property not a crime?

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]]> by: lik roper http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-153 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:09:15 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-153 stop criminalizing street artists, please! i know the guys who started painting trains and underpasses in SJ back in the early 1990s; one is a very respected artist and the other is a great tattoo artist now (alladin and john roper)... www.likroper.com<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 1</li> </ul> stop criminalizing street artists, please! i know the guys who started painting trains and underpasses in SJ back in the early 1990s; one is a very respected artist and the other is a great tattoo artist now (alladin and john roper)…

www.likroper.com

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]]> by: Jason R http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-150 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 06:50:34 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-150 I would've considered myself an advocate of the poor - until I moved to San Francisco. It is obvious that our tolerance of them is only encouraging them NOT to take effort and improve their own lives. This would be a good start. The people begging for money outside of Powell Street Station are the same people who were there 4 years ago. They don't want to change their lives enough to actually do it - not so long as they are given their basic needs by the city. Helping people would be one thing, but they have to help themselves also. As a responsible resident of the area that would be directly affected by this, I have to say I support it. Get rid of these people if they won't make an effort to help themselves. Standing in front of Powell Street station trying to sell Street Sheets IS NOT making an effort. I know that the ultra-liberals in this city (and I consider myself very liberal) see anyone that isn't poor or homeless as the enemy - but I pay $3200/month and work very hard to afford to live here. I'm not some lazy independently wealthy person who does nothing all day and lives a life of luxury. These people should have to put in at least as much effort - especially since they are the way they are because of the consequences of their own choices. Helping people is one thing - giving them a free ride is ridiculous and costly to our community. Get rid of them if they won't help themselves.<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 1</li> </ul> I would’ve considered myself an advocate of the poor - until I moved to San Francisco. It is obvious that our tolerance of them is only encouraging them NOT to take effort and improve their own lives. This would be a good start. The people begging for money outside of Powell Street Station are the same people who were there 4 years ago. They don’t want to change their lives enough to actually do it - not so long as they are given their basic needs by the city. Helping people would be one thing, but they have to help themselves also. As a responsible resident of the area that would be directly affected by this, I have to say I support it. Get rid of these people if they won’t make an effort to help themselves. Standing in front of Powell Street station trying to sell Street Sheets IS NOT making an effort. I know that the ultra-liberals in this city (and I consider myself very liberal) see anyone that isn’t poor or homeless as the enemy - but I pay $3200/month and work very hard to afford to live here. I’m not some lazy independently wealthy person who does nothing all day and lives a life of luxury. These people should have to put in at least as much effort - especially since they are the way they are because of the consequences of their own choices. Helping people is one thing - giving them a free ride is ridiculous and costly to our community. Get rid of them if they won’t help themselves.
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]]> by: Act Locally SF http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-136 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 02:39:55 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-136 [...] So, we’re going here at HQ. I’d say about there are about 40 people. The first couple questions have been about Healhcare and when the Health Access Plan is going to start. The questions are moving to quality of life. There’s a a ot of concern about break-ins, burglary… The Mayor says they are arresting these people, but they are being released. He says that’s why he, the DA and others are in support of bringing a Community Court to SF modeled after NYC to tackle these quality of life issues. [...]<ul></ul> […] So, we’re going here at HQ. I’d say about there are about 40 people. The first couple questions have been about Healhcare and when the Health Access Plan is going to start. The questions are moving to quality of life. There’s a a ot of concern about break-ins, burglary… The Mayor says they are arresting these people, but they are being released. He says that’s why he, the DA and others are in support of bringing a Community Court to SF modeled after NYC to tackle these quality of life issues. […]
    ]]>         by: Bernard Thomas http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-98 Tue, 27 Mar 2007 23:34:59 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-98 Great idea if actually done in a serious way. Rhetoric won't do it. The notion of "targetting the poor" as expressed by others is condescending--it assumes poor people cannot be good citizens. San Francisco has a beautiful natural setting, but down on the sidealks it's often a disgusting, nasty place because some of the people living here don't respect the city or fellow citizens. We should not longer tolerate disrespectful behavior and this is a start.<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 10</li> </ul> Great idea if actually done in a serious way. Rhetoric won’t do it. The notion of “targetting the poor” as expressed by others is condescending–it assumes poor people cannot be good citizens. San Francisco has a beautiful natural setting, but down on the sidealks it’s often a disgusting, nasty place because some of the people living here don’t respect the city or fellow citizens. We should not longer tolerate disrespectful behavior and this is a start.
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    ]]>         by: Act Locally SF http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-90 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 03:12:41 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-90 [...] We want to hear what you think about bringing a community court to the Union Square area to address quality of life concerns. Leave a comment. Vote in our poll on the front page of ActLocallySF.org. Better yet…start a blog. Here are instructions how to set one up. [...]<ul></ul> […] We want to hear what you think about bringing a community court to the Union Square area to address quality of life concerns. Leave a comment. Vote in our poll on the front page of ActLocallySF.org. Better yet…start a blog. Here are instructions how to set one up. […]
      ]]>             by: james buckley http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-87 Thu, 22 Mar 2007 03:16:48 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-87 mayor gaving newsom taking the most positive approach to our city's ' quality of life ' with a proven approach ( NYC )is something so encouraging for me - a san franciscan who sees homeless people sleeping in doorways on battery and california streets at 6:30 am everyday on my way to work. thank you james m buckley<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 1</li> </ul> mayor gaving newsom taking the most positive approach to our city’s ‘ quality of life ‘ with a proven approach ( NYC )is something so encouraging for me - a san franciscan who sees homeless people sleeping in doorways on battery and california streets at 6:30 am everyday on my way to work.
      thank you
      james m buckley
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      ]]>             by: Patrick Berkeley http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-86 Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:52:26 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/talkingpoints/2007/03/19/sf-plan-to-tackle-nuisance-crimes/#comment-86 This seems like a really good idea. I have lived in the area for nine months and bear witness to a wide variety of crimes being committed on a regular basis. I must say that before I moved here I was somewhat sympathetic toward the homeless, but after seeing their drug and alcohol abuse, their abusive behavior towards each other, and their total lack of respect for their surroundings (the city) I know longer sympathize with them. They don't have to throw trash on the streets when there is a garbage can 10 feet away! A few things about the crime level are really surprising: 1) the proximity to the tourist epicenter, 2) that the police don't do anything about it. This proposal is not targeting the poor or the homeless; it's targeting criminals. If it would help garner support for this proposal, I would be happy to provide photo and film documentation of the excessive crime.<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 10</li> </ul> This seems like a really good idea. I have lived in the area for nine months and bear witness to a wide variety of crimes being committed on a regular basis.

      I must say that before I moved here I was somewhat sympathetic toward the homeless, but after seeing their drug and alcohol abuse, their abusive behavior towards each other, and their total lack of respect for their surroundings (the city) I know longer sympathize with them. They don’t have to throw trash on the streets when there is a garbage can 10 feet away!

      A few things about the crime level are really surprising: 1) the proximity to the tourist epicenter, 2) that the police don’t do anything about it.

      This proposal is not targeting the poor or the homeless; it’s targeting criminals. If it would help garner support for this proposal, I would be happy to provide photo and film documentation of the excessive crime.

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